COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015— Audio recordist Allan Holmberg is a busy man these days. Whether traveling the world to capture on-set sound and dialogue for feature films or working on popular television programs in his native Denmark, Holmberg relies on Sound Devices to get the job done. Equipped with Sound Devices’ 788T audio recorders and CL-9 Linear Fader Controllers, Holmberg is able to adapt on the fly by having the ability to work on a production from his sound cart and on-the-go.
“I have been a Sound Devices fan for a long time,” says Holmberg. “Many Danish film projects have limited budgets, and are typically shot in about 30 days, with no second unit. This requires as much versatility and mobility as possible. My Sound Devices gear gives me the flexibility to go wherever I need while capturing incredible audio.”
Holmberg typically keeps his 788T packed in a sound bag on top of his sound cart, giving him the option to disconnect in a hurry. His cart is loaded with various monitors, batteries, boosters, and antennas, along with the Sound Devices’ CL-9 and an iPad®. The 788T stays rigged so he can detach quickly from the cart, put on the harness, and shoot the next scene while mobile.
“The 788T won me over when I was working on a film titled In a Better Place,” adds Holmberg. “It was shot in several locations; in two or more places a day. While in Kenya we faced several challenges, including the heat and very fine dust. I ended up putting ‘spacers’ in the sound bag to maintain the flow of air around the 788T to help keep it cooler. The product’s rock-solid construction proved essential, as it performed very well in these extreme conditions.”
The 788T was the obvious choice for him once again on another film, Love Is All You Need. For this production, 90 percent of the shots featured less than six actors. In a few vital scenes, there were a greater number of actors in–and-out of the frame, so the option to link the recorder was exactly what Holmberg needed. He ended up shooting these larger scenes using two 788Ts with two CL-9s for enhanced mixing capabilities, using his iPad to get easy access to the notes, track names, and additional metadata.
Holmberg also recently wrapped work on the Danish television show, Rita, and its miniseries spinoff Hjørdis. “Because there was a need to write notes in a hurry, I decided to use the 788T and iPad combination,” says Holmberg. “Although recording dialogue is my primary job, we also try to get as much ambience and effects as we can pick up during the shooting days. This is much simpler with the 788T, because it makes access to notes and metadata so easy.”
Sound Devices’ 788T is its flagship multi-track recorder. A proven solution for on-location production audio, the 788T is the choice of veteran sound professionals throughout the industry due to its extensive audio capabilities and rugged construction. The 788T features eight full-featured inputs and records up to 12 tracks. It accepts either microphone or line-level signals, provides 48-V phantom power for condenser microphones, offers peak limiters for microphone inputs and features fully adjustable high-pass filters—all in one compact package. The 788T, like all Sound Devices products, is versatile and designed to withstand the physical and environmental extremes of field production. It is this durability and functionality that professional sound mixers have come to expect from Sound Devices.
“Sound Devices released the 688 just as we ended shooting, but I have already purchased one and look forward to using it on my next project. I have always been happy with my Sound Devices equipment, because I can count on the gear to capture what I need.”
Founded in 1998, Sound Devices, LLC, designs both Sound Devices audio products and Video Devices video products. Sound Devices offers portable audio mixers, digital audio recorders and related equipment for feature film, episodic television, documentary, newsgathering, live-event, and acoustical test and measurement applications. Video Devices offers digital video recorders, monitors and related products, which address a range of video productions, including fast-paced studio applications, live sports and events, as well as mobile, TV, film and documentary productions.
The Sound Devices, LLC, headquarters is located in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Additional offices are located in Madison, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, and Berlin, Germany. For more information, visit the Sound Devices and/or Video Devices websites: www.sounddevices.com and www.videodevices.com.
